Ask ten people how big their move is and most will answer in bedrooms. Movers think in cubic metres, because that is what fills a truck or a container. Getting your volume right is the single most useful thing you can do before asking for a quote.
Why volume matters so much
Your volume decides:
- the size of the truck or container — and whether a shared load is possible;
- the time needed to pack, load and unload, and so the size of the crew;
- the price, since almost every line of a moving quote scales with it.
A quote built on 25 m³ when you really have 35 m³ is not a cheaper quote — it is a wrong one.
Quick estimate: the rule of thumb
For a first idea, divide your living area in square metres by two:
| Living area | Rough volume |
|---|---|
| 30 m² | about 15 m³ |
| 50 m² | about 25 m³ |
| 70 m² | about 35 m³ |
| 90 m² | about 45 m³ |
| 120 m² | about 60 m³ |
| 150 m² | about 75 m³ |
Adjust it up if you have a loft, cellar, garage or garden furniture, lots of books or a large wardrobe. Adjust it down if your home is sparsely furnished or you are leaving furniture behind.
Accurate estimate: furniture by furniture
These are typical volumes, including the space an item takes once wrapped and loaded. Real sizes vary — measure anything unusually large.
| Item | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Double bed with mattress | about 2 m³ |
| Single bed with mattress | about 1 m³ |
| Two-door wardrobe | about 1.5 to 2 m³ |
| Chest of drawers | about 0.5 to 1 m³ |
| Three-seater sofa | about 2.5 to 3 m³ |
| Armchair | about 1 m³ |
| Dining table for six | about 1.5 m³ |
| Dining chair | about 0.25 m³ |
| Bookcase | about 1 m³ |
| TV unit | about 0.5 to 1 m³ |
| Fridge-freezer | about 1 m³ |
| Washing machine | about 0.5 m³ |
| Desk | about 1 m³ |
| Bicycle | about 0.5 m³ |
| Standard moving box | about 0.07 to 0.1 m³ |
Room-by-room method
- Go through every room, including the loft, cellar, garage, shed, balcony and garden.
- Open every cupboard. Count the boxes their contents will fill.
- List the furniture and add up the volumes.
- Count the boxes: roughly 10 to 15 standard boxes per cubic metre.
- Remove what you won't take — sell, donate or store it before the quote, not after.
- Add a small margin for the forgotten corners.
Our online estimator does this room by room and gives you a volume and a starting price in two minutes.
The mistakes that change the price
- Forgetting storage spaces. The loft and the garage often add 20% or more.
- Counting rooms instead of furniture. Two homes of the same size can differ by half their volume.
- Planning to sort after the quote. Sort first, then measure.
- Underestimating boxes. Kitchens, books and clothes always need more than expected.
- Skipping outdoor items. Garden furniture, barbecues, plants and tools take real space.
From volume to transport mode
Once you know your number:
- under about 15 m³: a shared load in Europe, or a shared container between continents, is usually the cheapest;
- 15 to 30 m³: compare a shared load with a dedicated truck, or a 20-foot container overseas;
- above about 30 m³: a dedicated truck, or a 40-foot container overseas, is usually the best value.
Our guides to shared load vs dedicated truck vs container and to 20ft vs 40ft containers go into the details.
Confirming your volume
For larger homes, a short video survey with a coordinator is the most reliable check: you walk through your home with your phone, and the volume is confirmed before the written quote. It takes about twenty minutes and removes the main source of surprises on collection day.
Frequently asked questions
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